cable moden into cable tv wall point?

thunder · 02-07-2005, 17:38

Hi, i have had a ntl box wall connector for digital in my lounge for TV for years.
I recently had another box installed upstairs for cable modem (ntl 200 series).
Everthing works fine.

Today i thought.. can i take my laptop and modem downstairs and use the connection there - and therefore watch live 8 at same time.

I disconnect the cable from the FM socket upstairs and installed it into the FM socket downstairs. Booted up pc and modem but the modem only kept flashing on the
D/S light constantly. I rebooted and tried again - same thing. I turned OFF my ntl tv box incase only 1 signal at a time can come through and nothing

Could someone tell me if it is possible or are the boxes somehow numbered to the modem?? (both wall boxes are the same white boxes with 2 connections TV and FM)

thanks

Paul · 02-07-2005, 17:46

It's probably plugged into a dead/ unwired port now. They wired a second port upstairs on the wallplate because you were using two services (TV and BB) but downstairs you were only using one so most likely the second port on the faceplate is not wired up.

marky · 02-07-2005, 17:54

they put a 3.5db 2 way splitter on mine

Angua · 02-07-2005, 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by markymoan

they put a 3.5db 2 way splitter on mine

Same here (hidden somewhere behind the TV)
Looks something like: -

jaycee · 02-07-2005, 18:27

It depends what kind of isolator they have installed in the wallplate. If they installed one that's TV and FM, there will be a bandstop filter on the FM port which makes it unsuitable for use with a cable modem. In some cases, they install one that's just a simple splitter with no bandstop filtering that would work fine. Sadly, it seems your'e out of luck. As a test for this, temporarily disconnect your STB's cable, and connect your cablemodem to the TV port. It should work fine.

It's possible you could get a splitter like the one they install in the brown box outside (they only pull one cable to your house - usually) and wire this to the TV port, and then wire your TV and CM to it, but that's getting past simple, and the insertion loss of the splitter would probably stop it working.

Time to think about getting wireless perhaps ?

thunder · 02-07-2005, 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaycee

It depends what kind of isolator they have installed in the wallplate. If they installed one that's TV and FM, there will be a bandstop filter on the FM port which makes it unsuitable for use with a cable modem. In some cases, they install one that's just a simple splitter with no bandstop filtering that would work fine. Sadly, it seems your'e out of luck. As a test for this, temporarily disconnect your STB's cable, and connect your cablemodem to the TV port. It should work fine.

It's possible you could get a splitter like the one they install in the brown box outside (they only pull one cable to your house - usually) and wire this to the TV port, and then wire your TV and CM to it, but that's getting past simple, and the insertion loss of the splitter would probably stop it working.

Time to think about getting wireless perhaps ?

............
yes there is a small silver stopper on the FM port downstairs does this mean its dead. ??I tried the cable modem into the stb connector but nothing. looks like a wireless router and pcmcia card is the only option.

jaycee · 02-07-2005, 21:18

The small silver stopper is what's called a terminator.. that's just there to prevent signal degredation when the port isn't in use.

It's odd that your modem doesn't work on the TV port though. Do you have a Pace digibox ? If so, does the middle light flash or not light ? Does your interactive work ?

thunder · 02-07-2005, 22:23

yes got a pace digi box and the light doesnt flash. The interactive works but is god damn slow especially bbci and non ntl demand interactive.

if i connect to fm switch the d/s light on modem flashes really fast.
if i connect to the tv switch (removing set top box) the modem boots then nothing no lights flash ?

soon as go upstairs and connect back to the fm switch its fine (not tried the tv switch upstairs as im obviously attempting to gain a connection downstairs without the need for buying a wireless router & card).

jaycee · 02-07-2005, 23:04

Hmm, wierd... The DS light flashing really fast means "No signal on cable". Don't get why when connected to TV no lights flash at all. Oh well, not worth messing with I suppose.

Is there any NTL technician here who could enlighten me as to why this is ? Just out of personal interest.... (electronics is a big hobby of mine)

DWW · 03-07-2005, 12:10

It is pretty wierd if the digi box is locking on and the intercative light is permanently on that it doesn't make any sense to me why the modem won't lock onto this, I'd have to be there unless the digi box has an db

attenuator to lower the signal which the modem has not got when downstairs but doesn't need it upstairs as longer cable run??

jaycee · 03-07-2005, 17:36

Ahh yes.... I forgot about those

A simple look in the service menu on the digibox and a look at the modem status page would give this away, but I guess that's too much hassle for the OP to do just to satisfy some techie inclined poster's curiosity

thunder · 03-07-2005, 19:06

hi, was using a 6db forward path attenuator upstairs for a while (since installation) but removed it as kept getting dropped broadband, since remolving been fine upstairs.

Also sorry for being a bit thick BUT why would the modem work on FM port upstairs and not downstairs but you guys tell me to try the TV port downstairs.. so why was it connected to the FM port upstairs in the first place then and not TV??

Sorry not sure of the difference between the 2 and if you can intermix them?

ntlengineer · 03-07-2005, 19:18

It could be that the tv/fm point was put in back to front upstairs. The writing is on the front of the white isolator box but you can put the splitter in the wrong way round.

thunder · 03-07-2005, 19:28

okay to end this..

what is the FM port for (if it has been installed correctly)
and what is the TV port for.??

also to save time, can you run a broadband and tv connection off the same port at the same time i.e if i got the tv port to work downstairs could i watch tv and surf at same time or would i lose too much signal?

thanks

homealone · 03-07-2005, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by ntlengineer

It could be that the tv/fm point was put in back to front upstairs. The writing is on the front of the white isolator box but you can put the splitter in the wrong way round.

hi

to Cable Forum

- exactly, the labelling on the ports is of no significance, it is still puzzling why the modem won't lock on downstairs, though??